MQM-P has not backed away from demand for new provinces, says Mustafa Kamal
Criticised PPP for not providing basic facilities, says they have been in government for 18 years
Health Minister Mustafa Kamal on Saturday rebuked the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) for the inadequate infrastructure in Sindh, asserting the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) remained steadfast in its demand for new provinces. "The MQM-P has not retreated from the provinces demand," Kamal stated during a media interaction following the inauguration of Pakistan’s inaugural International Travellers Vaccination Centre at Karachi airport.
He pointed out the administrative disparity among major cities, highlighting that Karachi possessed seven districts, whereas Lahore and Peshawar each only had one. Kamal argued that the PPP had constructed districts along ethnic lines, questioning the rationale behind the division of Karachi. He dismissed a calculated stance on political matters, declaring: "Sweet words are accepted; harsh realities are dismissed."
Kamal advocated for partitioning Sindh into three provinces and questioned the objectionability of such a division. Criticizing the PPP's 18-year tenure, he lambasted their performance in delivering fundamental facilities, including sanitation systems. "There are no basic amenities; even sewer management eludes them," Kamal remarked.
He further disclosed that individuals in Sindh were consuming water from sources plagued by disease outbreaks. Kamal alleged that the PPP had amended the constitution of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, prompting the people of Sindh to demand a system overhaul. He remained uncertain about the possibility of a 28th Amendment, referencing the 27th Amendment's intent to devolve powers to streets and neighborhoods.
Kamal claimed that 80% of Karachi to Kashmore residents lacked access to clean drinking water. "While we combat a potential Third World War, children succumb to dog bites," he lamented. Speaking about the center, Kamal emphasized the necessity of vaccination for international travelers, particularly those heading to Saudi Arabia.
He elaborated that travellers would receive influenza vaccines, with their details archived in NADRA. The system was digitized, eliminating financial transactions for enrolment. Vaccines for meningitis and flu would be administered, and travellers’ entries would be documented in the NADRA database. Kamal proposed merging all Pakistani CNIC numbers into medical records and conducting online payments for vaccinations.
He cautioned that fake certificates were sold for a few thousand rupees and urged travelers to obtain meningitis vaccination certificates for Hajj and Umrah. He also mentioned that many individuals were deported due to medical reasons, with returning flight data stored at the flight health desk.
Written by urgent.news from The Express Tribune - Pakistan's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
